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Selmo Cikotić

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Selmo Cikotić
Cikotić in 2021
Minister of Security
In office
23 July 2020 – 25 January 2023
Prime MinisterZoran Tegeltija
Preceded byFahrudin Radončić
Succeeded byNenad Nešić
Minister of Defence
In office
22 April 2007 – 12 January 2012
Prime MinisterNikola Špirić
Preceded byNikola Radovanović
Succeeded byMuhamed Ibrahimović
Personal details
Born (1964-01-25) 25 January 1964 (age 60)
Berane, SR Montenegro, SFR Yugoslavia
NationalityBosnian
Political partyParty of Democratic Action
Alma materUniversity of Sarajevo
Military service
Allegiance Yugoslavia (1984–92)
 Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992–95)
 Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1995–04)
Branch/serviceJNA (1984–92)
ARBiH (1992–95)
VFBiH (1995–04)
Years of service1984–2004
RankBrigadier
CommandsOperational group Zapad
1st Corps of the Federal Army
Battles/warsBosnian War

Selmo Cikotić (born 25 January 1964) is a Bosnian politician who served as Minister of Security from 2020 to 2023. He was also the Minister of Defence from 2007 to 2012. He is a member of the Party of Democratic Action.

Cikotić's career in the army spanned for 20 years, being in the Yugoslav People's Army, the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian War, and lastly in the Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was ranked as brigadier.

Early career

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In February 1993, Cikotić was made commander of operational group Zapad of the 3rd Corps of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Bugojno.

He served as the military attaché at the embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United States in Washington, D.C. from December 1994 to 1997. As brigadier general, Cikotić was enrolled at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth in June 1997, before being expelled as a result of unconfirmed accusations made by Croatian officials that he commanded soldiers who tortured and killed people in and around Bugojno during the Bosnian War.[1]

From 2000 until 2004, he was the Commander of the 1st Corps of the Federal Army, and from 2004 to 2007 CEO of OKI in Sarajevo. Cikotić has a master's degree from the University of Sarajevo in 2004 and is fluent in English.

Minister of Defence (2007–2012)

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Cikotić was appointed Minister of Defence on 11 January 2007, but was unable to take up officially until 22 April 2007, when a ban on former army officers performing defence-related civilian duties expired.[2]

In June 2007, he jointly attended a Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council at the NATO headquarters in Brussels with Serbian Defence Minister Dragan Šutanovac, where together they expressed their governments' wish to join NATO as soon as possible.[3] In March 2008, Cikotić led a five member delegation to Pakistan, to discuss "bilateral cooperation between the two Muslim countries".[4] His term as Minister of Defence ended on 12 January 2012.

Minister of Security (2020–2023)

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On 23 July 2020, Cikotić became Minister of Security in the government of Zoran Tegeltija.[5] This came after Fahrudin Radončić resigned as Minister of Security over a migration dispute with other members of Zoran Tegeltija's government; Radončić proposed the deportation of 9,000 migrants which the cabinet, headed by Tegeltija, voted against.[6]

On 25 November 2021, the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina filed an indictment against Cikotić for high corruption, regarding abuse of position and authority at the time when he was Defence Minister.[7] The national Court confirmed the indictment against Cikotić on 8 December 2021, accusing him of abusing his position as Defence Minister from 2009 until 2011, which damaged the budget of Bosnia and Herzegovina by 9.7 million KM and obtained multimillion-dollar property gain for others.[8] The indictment was confirmed and Cikotić was sentenced to three years in prison in October 2024.[9]

Cikotić was succeeded as Minister of Security by Nenad Nešić on 25 January 2023, following the formation of a new government presided over by Borjana Krišto.[10]

War crimes charges

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On 18 January 2024, an indictment against Cikotić was confirmed by the Bosnian state court. He was charged with failing to take whatever actions necessary to prevent the ill-treatment, torture and murders of captured Croatian Defence Council soldiers in 1993, as well as failing to initiate criminal proceedings against those who had committed the concerned war crimes in the town of Bugojno during the Croat–Bosniak conflict.[11]

Conviction for abuse of office

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On 5 December 2023, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina found Cikotić guilty of abuse of office committed in 2009-2011, when he was serving as Minister of Defence, and condemned him to 3 years of prison. Cikotić had illegally signed contracts with the company Scout from Zagreb for the export of weapons and ammunition of a higher quality, instead of the write-off weapons and ammunition to reduce the costs of their storage. He hence damaged the BiH budget in the amount of BAM 9.7 M and enabled the other party’s material gain. On 31 October 2024, the Appellate Division Panel of the Court of BiH confirmed the first-instance judgment.

Personal life

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On 17 October 2020, it was confirmed that Cikotić tested positive for COVID-19, amid its pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[12]

References

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  1. ^ Weiner, Tim (28 June 1997). "Allegations Halt Army Training For Bosnian General in the U.S." New York Times. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  2. ^ "Bosnia Gets New Government Four Months After Elections". Journal of Turkish Weekly. 10 February 2007. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  3. ^ "Former Balkan war opponents aspire to NATO "as soon as possible"". International Herald Tribune. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  4. ^ "Bosnian defence team arrives". Daily Times. 24 March 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  5. ^ R.D. (23 July 2020). "Selmo Cikotić je zvanično novi ministar sigurnosti Bosne i Hercegovine" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Bosnia's security minister to resign over migrant dispute". Reuters. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  7. ^ N.V. (25 November 2021). "Tužilaštvo BiH podiglo optužnicu protiv Selme Cikotića zbog visoke korupcije" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  8. ^ D.Be. (8 December 2021). "Potvrđena optužnica protiv ministra sigurnosti BiH Selme Cikotića" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  9. ^ admin (31 October 2024). "Former Defense Minister Selmo Cikotic sentenced to three Years in Prison". Sarajevo Times. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  10. ^ N.V. (25 January 2023). "BiH dobila novo Vijeće ministara, državnu vlast sada čini SNSD, HDZ, SDP, NiP, NS, DNS..." (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Bosnia's Former Security Minister Charged with War Crimes". Balkan Insight.
  12. ^ D.Be. (17 October 2020). "Ministar sigurnosti BiH Selmo Cikotić zaražen koronavirusom" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
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Political offices
Preceded by
Nikola Radovanović
 Minister of Defence
2007–2012 		Succeeded by
Muhamed Ibrahimović
Preceded by Minister of Security
2020–2023 		Succeeded by
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